Advanced Reported Speech in Spanish (Estilo Indirecto): A Complete B2 Guide

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Key Takeaways

• Master the advanced rules for tense harmony (consecutio temporum) when shifting from direct to reported speech.
• Learn how to correctly report questions, commands (imperatives), and statements with modal verbs (poder, deber, querer).
• Understand the changes required for pronouns, possessive adjectives, and references to time and place.
• Differentiate between reporting statements, yes/no questions, and information questions (qué, dónde, cuándo).
• Practice transforming direct speech into natural, flowing reported narration.

Beyond “He Said That”: The Grammar of Accurate Narration

At the B1 level, you learned to report simple statements. At B2, you must accurately report entire conversations, including questions, commands, and nuanced expressions. Mastering estilo indirecto is essential for relaying information, telling stories, and summarizing discussions. This is the grammar of precise communication and narrative coherence.

The Foundation: Tense Harmony (Consecutio Temporum)

The core rule is that the tense in the reported clause shifts back in time relative to the reporting verb (dijo que, preguntó si, explicó que).

Direct Speech Tense	→	Reported Speech Tense (after a past reporting verb)
Present (Indicative/Subjunctive)	→	Imperfect (Indicative/Subjunctive)
Preterite / Perfect / Imperfect	→	Past Perfect (Pluperfect)
Future / Conditional	→	Conditional
Commands (Imperative)	→	Imperfect Subjunctive / Que + Subjunctive

Examples of Tense Shifts:

• Direct: “Tengo frío.” → Reported: Dijo que tenía frío.
• Direct: “He terminado.” → Reported: Anunció que había terminado.
• Direct: “Iremos mañana.” → Reported: Prometieron que irían al día siguiente.

💡 Key Exception: If the reporting verb is in the present, future, or perfect (e.g., dice que, dirá que, ha dicho que), the tense in the reported clause does NOT change.

• “Siempre dice que tiene frío.” (He always says he is cold.)

Reporting Questions

This is a crucial B2 skill. The word order changes from question to statement format.

1. Yes/No Questions: Use si (if/whether) to introduce the reported question.
   • Direct: “¿Vas a la fiesta?” → Reported: Me preguntó si iba a la fiesta.
2. Information Questions (¿Qué? ¿Dónde? ¿Cuándo?): Use the same question word to introduce the reported clause, but switch to statement word order.
   • Direct: “¿Dónde vives?” → Reported: Quiso saber dónde vivía.
   • Direct: “¿Qué has hecho?” → Reported: Preguntó qué había hecho.

Reporting Commands (Imperatives)

Commands shift to the imperfect subjunctive or a construction with que + present subjunctive (if the reporting verb is in the present).

• Direct: “¡Ven aquí!” → Reported: Me gritó que viniera / viniese aquí.
• Direct: “No hables.” → Reported: Me pidió que no hablara.
• With a present reporting verb: “Me pide que vaya.” (He asks me to go.)

💻 Conjugate with Confidence
Reporting speech requires flawless control of all tenses, especially the imperfect subjunctive. Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool to instantly get the correct form for any verb in any required tense.

➤ Try the Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool Now

Nuanced Shifts: Modal Verbs, Pronouns, Time & Place

1. Modal Verbs: Poder, deber, querer often shift to the conditional in reported speech to maintain the original intention.

• Direct: “Puedo ayudarte.” → Reported: Dijo que podría ayudarme. (Not podía, which suggests “was able to”).
• Direct: “Quiero ir.” → Reported: Dijo que querría ir. (Expresses desire, not just past “wanted”).

2. Pronouns and Possessives: Shift to match the perspective of the reporter.

• Direct: “Yo terminé mi trabajo.” → Reported: Él dijo que él había terminado su trabajo.

3. Time and Place References: Adjust as if you are narrating from your current standpoint.

• ahora → entonces, en ese momento
• hoy → aquel día
• ayer → el día anterior
• mañana → el día siguiente, al día siguiente
• aquí → allí
• Direct: “Te llamo mañana.” → Reported: Dijo que me llamaría al día siguiente.

Common Advanced Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not Shifting Tenses After a Past Verb: “Dijo que tiene frío.” (Wrong if he said it earlier). Should be “Dijo que tenía frío.”
2. Keeping Question Word Order: “Preguntó dónde vivo yo.” (Wrong word order). Should be “Preguntó dónde vivía yo.”
3. Using the Infinitive for Reported Commands: “Me dijo venir.” is ambiguous. Be clear: “Me dijo que viniera.”
4. Forgetting to Shift “Poder” and “Querer”: Saying “Dijo que podía hacerlo” implies “he was able to.” For “he said he could (offered),” use “Dijo que podría hacerlo.”

Putting It All Together: Transforming a Conversation

Direct Speech Dialogue:
Juan: “¿Qué haces aquí? María quiere verte ahora mismo. ¡Ven conmigo!”
Reported Speech Narration:
Juan me preguntó qué hacía allí. Añadió que María quería verme en ese momento. Me ordenó que fuera con él.

Quick Reference Chart

Element in Direct Speech	Change in Reported Speech (after past verb)
Present Tense	→ Imperfect Tense
Future Tense	→ Conditional Tense
Imperative (¡Ven!)	→ Imperfect Subjunctive (que viniera)
Question (¿Dónde?)	→ Statement (dónde…) + tense shift
Pronoun (yo, tú)	→ Shift to 3rd person as needed
Time (ahora, mañana)	→ (entonces, al día siguiente)

Practice Exercise: Convert to Reported Speech
(Assume the reporting verb is in the past: “Ella dijo que…”)

1. Direct: “No puedo salir esta noche.”
2. Direct: “¿Has visto a Pedro?”
3. Direct: “Tráeme el informe mañana.”
4. Direct: “¿Dónde pusiste las llaves ayer?”
5. Direct: “Quiero que esto termine ahora.”

Answers:

1. Dijo que no podía/podría salir esa noche. (Podría is better for an offer/ability).
2. Preguntó si había visto a Pedro.
3. Me pidió que le trajera el informe al día siguiente.
4. Preguntó dónde había puesto las llaves el día anterior.
5. Dijo que quería que aquello terminara en ese momento.

📚 Review Related Topics: [B2 Guide: Conditional Perfect] | [B1 Guide: Imperfect Subjunctive] | [B1 Guide: Commands] | [Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool]

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Pro Tip: In rapid speech, natives sometimes avoid complex reported speech by using direct quotes or simplifying (“Me dijo de venir” is common but informal/colloquial). For correct, formal Spanish, always use the structures in this guide.